Bengals' Hard Knocks recap: James Harrison still scary

The Cincinnati Bengals’ debut Tuesday on ‘Hard Knocks,’ HBO’s training camp reality series, is the second go-round for this team. The Bengals weren’t camera shy, either, showcasing a hard-edged linebacker whom we wouldn’t dare cross and a rookie getting around town in a minivan.

Spotlight

The brightest star in the first episode is Geno Atkins, the NFL’s premier defensive tackle who has become the worthy face of the young Cincinnati franchise. Last year, the intro for the Miami Dolphins featured a lot of sun, sand and cheerleaders. This year, with Atkins doing some heavy chain lifting in the opening credits, it feels like the Bengals are competing in Survivor: AFC North.

The episode featured several dazzling runs by promising rookie running back Giovani Bernard, but there were plenty of reminders that he’s still a rookie running back. In addition to being smacked around by the veteran defenders, Bernard is driving a tan minivan that belongs to his girlfriend’s mom. It’s put to shame by the 1991 Mazda 626 Morris drove as a Redskins rookie last year. Meanwhile, we learn that a more established Bengals offensive star, recently engaged wide receiver A.J. Green, just bought himself a Beemer for Year 3.

Don’t touch

“The baddest man in football has been this guy.” That’s how narrator Liev Schreiber helps us get reacquainted with James Harrison. Harrison hasn’t lost the edge he had with the rival Steelers, and he can strike fear with one intense look. Harrison hams up that reputation, taking every opportunity to turn away from, flip off, shut doors on and block the NFL Films cameras. Otherwise, he is busy trying to hammer everything— including to the coaches’ dismay, A.J. Green.

Like it or not, the Oklahoma Drill is good TV. Colleague David Steele took the Bengals to task for continuing to implement the “archaic” one-on-one physical battle into training camp. It’s controversial, but it’s no doubt the Bengals had a lot of fun doing it, and it was fun to watch some old-school football. The best takedown, hands down, was tight end Jermaine Gresham in a shocking, dominant upset of Atkins.

Sad break

The gut-wrenching, tear-jerking moment of the episode came at the end when we saw undrafted rookie defensive tackle Larry Black, a Cincinnati native, see his NFL dream potentially end after breaking his right leg.

Andy Dalton, husband, is as dutiful as Andy Dalton, Bengals quarterback and leader. When he’s at home, we see him listening to his lovely wife, Jordan, about how Pilates makes for a pretty good off-field workout. When he’s on the field, despite the constant ridicule, he stays true to her while wearing a black rubber wedding band designed for “active,” people. That’s some good advice for those of us who have lost a wedding band trying to swim in the Pacific Ocean.

Adam Jones runs out of gas on his way to camp. It says something when this is now the biggest problem ‘Pacman’ is having as a Bengal.

Marvin Lewis watches ‘other’ reality TV. Caught drinking out of a plastic cup at the Bengals’ pre-training camp party, the Bengals coach is proud of his “tumbler,” and gave us a hint of his non-game film viewing habits with the one-liner of the episode: “I’m like Si on Duck Dynasty.”